HR Specialist Benefits & Payroll

Everett Public Schools - Everett, MA

Full-time - Mid Level

Everett, MA

Educational Services

About the position

The HR Specialist - Benefits & Payroll at Everett Public Schools is responsible for managing employee benefits programs and payroll processing. This role involves ensuring accurate benefits enrollments, assisting with new-hire orientations, and maintaining employee time records. The specialist will also handle inquiries related to benefits and payroll, process leave-of-absence requests, and collaborate with HR staff to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments.
• Assists with new-hire orientations.
• Performs quality checks of benefits-related data.
• Assists employees regarding benefits claim issues and plan changes.
• Distributes all benefits enrollment materials and determines eligibility.
• Enrolls employees with carriers and processes life status changes.
• Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.
• Processes and administers all leave-of-absence requests and disability paperwork: medical, personal, disability and FMLA.
• Effectively interprets FMLA and ADA implications as they relate to leaves of absences/disabilities.
• Assists with the open enrollment process.
• Calculates adjustments to be made to payroll due to separations or Leave of Absences.
• Ensures proper processing of payroll deductions for taxes, benefits, and other deductions.
• Reconciles payroll to the general ledger.
• Issues, or reissues, physical or replacement checks or direct deposits due to payroll errors or final discharge.
• Maintains Longevity records and Job/Salary records in MUNIS according to contract requirements.
• Maintains records for contract-related special pay and stipends, as well as job/salary records in MUNIS.
• Collaborate with Human Resources staff to ensure accurate and timely completion of all payroll documents, W-4, I-9, insurance benefit applications, retirement applications, 403(b) authorizations and other relevant payroll documents for new employees.
• Coordinate with City Retirement and Human Resources staff on benefits-related matters.
• Maintain a filing system of memorandums or other instructions from the Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations or other designated employees indicating a change or modification in salary, stipends and other forms of compensations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in human resources or related field of study.
• Two years of experience in accounting or bookkeeping with at least one year of experience in payroll preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and applicable laws.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Proficient with or the ability to quickly learn payroll software.
• Ability to work successfully and collaboratively in a deadline-based environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and data integrity.

Nice-to-haves

• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification credential.
• Experience utilizing Munis.
• Experience utilizing Harpers Payroll.
• Demonstrated knowledge of school district structure.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Harpers Payroll and X2.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Google Docs.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Life insurance